ALGAE - ECONOMY BASED ECOLOGICAL SERVICE OF AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND

Massive growth of macroalgae or cyanobacteria caused by human activity is the first sign that a water body is deteriorating. Freshwater macroalgae form spatially large mats that can choke water bodies, clog pipes, and block light from reaching aquatic plants, leading to the loss of ecosystem balance and biodiversity. Decaying algae mats use up all available oxygen in water, promote secondary contamination and cause an offensive smell, if washed ashore. Harmful cyanobacteria blooms pose an even more significant threat to water quality and people’s livelihoods (fishing, tourism, shipping, etc.). Cyanobacteria produce toxins that can cause skin irritation, seriously harm the human liver, digestive and nervous systems and that are potentially fatal.

If handily and appropriately harvested, such material could be used to make biofuel, bioplastics, fertilisers and other useful things. However, currently commercially available mechanical harvesters are not effective at collecting algae biomass agglomerations (mats and scums).

OBJECTIVES

AlgaeService for LIFE tested three prototype freshwater macroalgae and cyanobacteria harvesting machines in real conditions on rivers, lakes and the Kaunas Reservoir. The collected material used to produce biogas, fertilisers and high-value products on a small-scale. The project also developed a business plan for commercial development.

The proposed harvesting of proliferating cyanobacteria and macroalgae aimed to help to halt the loss of biodiversity and restore degraded aquatic ecosystems, thus contributing to the objectives of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2020. This circular economy project focused on addressing integrated management of nutrients and organic pollution caused by agriculture, and on suggesting measures needed at river basin or catchment scale to achieve the goals of the Water Framework Directive, Marine Strategy Framework Directive, Nitrates, Bathing Waters and Drinking Water Directives. AlgaeService for LIFE also aimed to reduce energy-related carbon dioxide emissions, thereby contributing to reaching targets set in the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

RESULTS

The project’s notable results included:

• production of 3 prototypes for harvesting of macroalgae and cyanobacteria and tests for 762 hours in real conditions on various aquatic systems;
• collection of up to 95.44 tonnes of macroalgae biomass and 13.32 tonnes of cyanobacteria;
• a validated methodology prepared for harvesting algae agglomerations in inland aquatic ecosystems, using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and satellite images;
• the development of guidelines for refining monitoring of inland water bodies, based on water quality analysis data, including new solutions for migration of nutrient from non-controllable sources in the catchment with a total area of 450 km² assessed in Lithuania and Poland;
• evaluation and validation of the project’s ecological benefits, with a total 20.1 tonnes of CO₂, 34.3 kg of phosphorus, 354.2 kg of nitrogen and 0.373 kg of cyanotoxins removed with the harvested cyanobacteria, macroalgae and aquatic plants;
• successful production of 833 m³ of biogas (4 925 kWh of energy) from cyanobacteria and macroalgae, both alone and combined with other biodegradable biomass;
• validation of suitability of harvested materials for use of slow-release fertilisers and promotion of growth activity of plants. 26 tonnes of macroalgae and 2.5 tonnes of cyanobacteria have been tested as fertilisers. A national patent was obtained for fertilisers and the application for inclusion into national list of fertilising products was submitted to the authorities;
• development of a business plan for macroalgae and cyanobacteria, covering the entire supply chain;
• creation of a market-friendly products, namely, phycocianin and Cladophora extracts for cosmetics, from the harvested cyanobacteria and macroalgae biomass;
• evaluation of ecosystem service costs and benefits from harvesting and using this material and of the socio-economic effects of improved water quality. As a part of this specific aspect of the project, the Willingness to Pay study was carried out and the project Life Cycle Assessment was prepared.
• increase in public awareness on eutrophication, algal blooming and sustainable use of this biomass;
• preparation of a strategy and a plan for replication and transfer of the manufactured prototypes, technical knowledge and outcomes.